F1 - whats the Answer?

[steveaki13]

So. We see headlines about plans that are in place to spice up F1.

This is not about those.

Give the rest of us your ideas about what you think F1 should be and how its done. i.e whether we should have a massive cost cap or no cost saving at all.

Lets hear how F1 could be improved by real knowledgeable fans, rather than the casual watch a couple of races a season fan.

[Tazio]

So


whats the Answer?

Swordfish

Sorry, that's the password!

[steveaki13]

Swordfish

Sorry, that's the password!

and now I know it. I will yet get my 1000 USD

[steveaki13]

I want to know if people would change stuff back to 2000 spec or 1992 spec

Go electric as a radical idea?

What do you guys want to see F1 as or do.

[N4D13]

There are a few common contradictions that arise every now and then here. We could think about making races more exciting, but then again, we don't want to resort to artificial gimmicks, whatever that means. We also want to go back to classical circuits but we don't want to have boring races such as the Montmelo and Monaco ones. We crave to have circuits which penalize driving errors but we also want drivers not to get hurt.

And of course, everyone wants to go back to the "good ol' days", whatever these are, whilst conveniently ignoring how technologies and processes have changed - what worked in the 80s or 90s for a racing team will certainly NOT work today. I recall someone saying that he liked how any Joe could build a car and be competitive almost from the start in the past - well, when you've got teams who employs legions of engineers and spend gazillions in making fast cars, that's not going to happen. And there's just no going back to that situation no matter how much we'd like it to happen.

Then there's also the fact that, quite frankly, hardcore fans are usually a small part of the pie. Formula 1 teams need an income source and the fans are the people who are paying, so it makes sense for the teams to try and expand this fanbase. Is this what we want, or on the contrary, we just want to improve the quality of the racing - or better, what we perceive as quality - and ignore newcomers? We would do well to keep in our minds that the kind of people who participate in this forum are a minority - we're not the money.

Sorry for the long post. Basically, the point that I'm trying to make is that even hardcore fans don't necessarily have to be right. It's always good to fantasize how our dream F1 would be but we shouldn't deceive ourselves believing that our ideal vision would work in the real world.

[Tazio]

I want to know if people would change stuff back to 2000 spec or 1992 spec

Go electric as a radical idea?

What do you guys want to see F1 as or do.

Mike transcended both specs, and even considering that his teammates weren't allowed to really race him (most of the time) I personally found it very entertaining (when they had refueling) the way he would come on strong at the end of a stint, usually the first, and then refuel and maintain the same pace, as he did when he was finishing the previous one. The refueling strategy days were more entertaining, and that is even considering (imo) that their is a much more talented field now than when he raced. In fact especially since their is a more talented field. The talent is basically wasted managing tires, and just the whole race in general.

[steveaki13]

I think I personally favour allow the teams more freedom to design and spend. Let them try different designs and then forget the artifical making races entertaining.

Let the teams hire great drivers and push the envelope of design and race on the edge again. That could potentially get drivers pushing the limit more which is exciting and also stop the conservation aspect all the time.

Yes costs would go up, but allow smaller teams to enter with a lower fee and buy certain elements and you get a field the size of the 90s again hopefully.

Its obviously not perfect but I think it would be a purer motorsport for that.

As for circuit, I stand by the fact I would get rid of some of the tarmac carpark tracks and bring back some older circuits.

I would return to mid 2000's levels of gravel and barriers. Not many people died or were badly injured in the mid 2000's and with stronger cars than ever now then safety surely would not be an issue.

I like the fact that F1 drivers should make as few mistakes as possible and maybe with gravel back like early/mid 2000's we get that punishment of retirement for a mistake.

I guess some will always argue safety, which I have no defence for, but retirement ffrom the race should be a threat for mistakes in F1.

[N4D13]

I think I personally favour allow the teams more freedom to design and spend. Let them try different designs and then forget the artifical making races entertaining.

I actually remember how a Williams engineer came up with how Formula 1 cars would look like if there were no design rules, and the thing looked striking. It was basically a contraption which would generate enormous amounts of downforce. There was one issue, though - the turning speeds would have been so high that a driver would have passed out (which, by the way, also happened with one of the first ground force cars). So that's why you need design regulations to slow the cars down. And even if you don't go to the extreme of drivers fainting because of extreme cornering speeds, you still understand that it is necessary to keep reasonable levels of speed to avoid having huge accidents.

[Jag_Warrior]

I wouldn't do a whole lot, actually. Just some tweaks here and there on the formula, but nothing overly radical. Wider tires, freer team tire selection, freer design parameters on bodywork, maybe some changes to what teams can purchase or contract out and still remain constructors, some way to make these engines louder and more affordable. I don't care about the fuel mileage on F1 engines. To me, that's a stupid idea promoted by whining tree huggers, who don't watch F1 anyway. Same with this do-gooder group in Europe (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) that wants to ban alcohol advertising in F1. Look, F1 doesn't glorify drinking as much as it glorifies fast, dangerous driving. What's next, making a PC rule that each driver has to be allowed to lead at least one lap of each race? Forcing each team to employ a female driver (who has never won an automobile race in her life) just for the sake of being PC and "feminist friendly" (that idea was actually floated by a blogger)? Let Sheryl Sandberg or Oprah sponsor a girl in GP3 and GP2 and let her earn a position on an F1 team (or buy her a seat, once she's won at least one lower formula race and has a super license). I'm fine with that. I'm also more than fine with scantily clad grid girls and the glamour that contributes to the show that is Formula One. Anything that dumbs down F1 or tries to make it more politically correct, I am opposed to.

Also, I want to see some group of investors take control of F1 from the private equity vultures at CVC. I'd like to see that group invest in the business and the series, and not just try to squeeze every available dollar/Euro out of Tilke parking lot tracks in dumps like Azerbaijan or Iran, while Monza and Silverstone are under threat of losing their races. And I'd like to see someone like Zak Brown take over from Bernie Ecclestone, before he starts wandering around in the paddock without his pants. Bernie claims that he'd rather sell Rolexes to people on their way to the Shady Rest Nursing Home, and ignore people 18-30, who are on their way to making it. Bernie is losing the plot, IMO. He's done right by F1 (and himself) to this point. But his time is now up. Let's have a smooth transition and protect and grow the sport again. As far as fans, it's time to reach out to new prospects (but not the "suspects - people who have ever been in sales will know what that means).

[AAReagles]

.. As for circuit, I stand by the fact I would get rid of some of the tarmac carpark tracks and bring back some older circuits.

Yep.

Start up an online revolution/petition, say Occupy F1 or something.

Resurect the original slipstreaming Silverstone... Hockenheim... Osterreichring... Zandvoort... Paul Richard... etc., hence no chicanes.

Increase race distances (back) to 200 miles or more. Oh, and no pre-planned pit stops.

Don't over-saturate the racing schedule where it starts to resemble NASCAR. F1 races should have the integrity of being unique.

Establish a rule that NO country can hold more than ONE race (like the debacles that we've seen here in the US during the 1980s).

Sentence Bernie to exile - to one of those dictatorship countries he seems to embrace.

Not necessarily in that order.